Forced premature detonation of improvised explosive devices via noise print simulation

Abstract

An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) defense system is described that forces premature detonation of IEDs by radiated sound energy signals. Embodiments of the invention provide for radiating sound energy signals from a stationary or mobile platform to a stationary or mobile area defining an “IED detonation zone.” IEDs within the IED detonation zone that are triggered by sound energy sources will receive the radiated sound energy signals, thereby forcing premature detonation of IEDs in the detonation zone.

1. A method for implementing an IED defense system for forcing premature detonation of IEDs having a triggering mechanism responsive to sound energy signals, the IEDs being carried by a moving person or vehicle traveling on a road, the method comprising:
 radiating in the air from one or more stationary sound energy platforms sound energy signals via speakers that are part of the platforms; 
 selecting the energy signals to be a characteristic noise print to which the IEDs are tuned as the triggering mechanism; 
 defining an IED detonation zone as a predetermined portion of the road along which the moving person or vehicle travels prior to entering a target area where the IED is intended to detonate; 
 locating the one or more stationary sound energy platforms off the road and adjacent to the portion of the road that defines the IED detonation zones; 
 activating the platforms by one or more controllers to radiate the sound energy signals upon the person or vehicle on the road entering the IED detonation zone; 
 the speakers being disposed to transmit the radiated sound energy signals across the road at the IED detonation zone to encounter the person or vehicle, the selected sound energy signals of the characteristic noise print forcing premature detonation of IEDs having a triggering mechanism stimulated to detonate in response to sound energy signals with the selected characteristic noise print within the IED detonation zone. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a prospective target is a vehicle having a selected characteristic noise print of one of the group of a siren and a rumble of the vehicle. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 disposing one or more fixed reflectors off of but adjacent to the portion of the road defining the IED detonation zone, the one or more fixed reflectors adapted to receive and reflect the sound energy signals radiated from the speakers of the one or more platforms towards the IED detonation zone where the reflected signals are toward the IED detonation zone, yielding a combination of reflected sound energy signals from the one or more reflectors and sound energy signals from the speakers, the combination of selected sound energy signals forcing premature detonation of IEDs having a triggering mechanism responsive to the selected characteristic noise print within the IED detonation zone. 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising mechanically pivoting the speakers so that the speakers induce different angles of transmission of the sound energy signals towards the IED detonation zone and cause different sound wave patterns in the IED detonation zone. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the one or more controllers including a processor running under software instructions that controls the activation of the platforms.